Solderless battery cable grip



June.9, 1936. c. E. HOOVER 2,043,512

SOLDRLESS BATTERY VGBLE GRIP l Filed NOV. 2, 1934 359/3155 Ham/EwPatented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,043,512 SOLDERLESSBATTERY CABLE GRIP Charles E. Hoover, Lancaster, Pa. ApplicationNovember 21934, Serial No. '751,231 6 Claims. (Cl. 173-269) My inventionrelates to means for connecting Figure 6 is an end elevation of theembodiment battery cables to terminals for use with storage shown inFigure 1. batteries and it has for an object to `provide a Figure 'l isa plan view 0f another embodiment l means whereby the cable, even thoughmost of of my invention. 5 its strands shall have been broken off, maybe se- Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line 8--8 5 curely held, inan acid-proof way, to the terminal. f Figure 7- An object of theinvention is to provide means Figure 9 is an end elevation of the partsshown securely to lock a cable end in a battery terminal in Figure 7.sleeve or socket. Figure l0 is a vertical cross section on the line l0Further, it is an object to provide a, means to l--IU 0f Figure 7- 10receive a cable end, which means is so constructed Figure 11 AiS ahOTiZOIltal Section On the line that it will have an acid-proof pocketin which ll-ll 0f Figure 8. l the wire strands are held, the entrance tothe Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure. 8 showing pocket being closedby the insulation of the cable. how a cable having but a few availablestrands l Further, it is an object to provide a solderless may beSecuredl5 battery cable grip terminal which is protected Figure 13 iS anelevation 0f a mOdied form against corrosion either by creeping acid orby 0f Plugacid fumes entering the cable socket thereof. Figure 14 iS aneieVa'iOn 0f another modified Further, it is an object to provide asolderless OIIII 0f Plugcable grip having a straight sided standard orIn the accompanying drawing, in Which like 20 S. A. E. threaded plug tofit a threaded hole in the numerals 0f reference indicate like Parts inall body which has the recess for the cable ends, the the figures,represente the body 01 SOCkeif D01" plug having a nut head of smallerdiameter to tion of the'cable terminal which has a flared enallow theplug to be screwed in and accommodate trance end 2 and a threaded plugreceiving hole any desired grip according to the number of 3, togetherwith a concave seat 4 'below the hole 25 strands or size of the cable.3. The entrant end of the socket is restricted at A further object is toprovide a solderless bat- 5 to a diameter substantially smaller thanthat tery cable grip terminal which will interlock with 0f the threadedbOI'e 3, by means 0f af transverse `the cable regardless cfwhether ornot it be of rib-like portion or half moon B- The .rear 0r few or manystrands. innermost end I2 of the socket is similarly re 30 Further, itis an object to provide a battery Stricted adjacent the bore 3 by a halfmoon rib 1. cable grip using a screw plug to which other cable Bdesignates the usual split clamp which may terminals may be anchored. besecured to a battery post by a bolt 9, passing Other objects will inpart be obvious and in through a. hole i3, and a nut l0, a shoulder I4part be pointed out hereinafter. t being provided to hold the bolt fromturning. 35

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and The SCleW Plug ii WhichCOOPeIeteS With the ends, the invention stili further resides in theaforesaid Structure embodies a straight side novel details ofconstruction, combination and arthreaded plus having a substantiallyflat end 20 rangement of parts, all of which will be first fully Withrounded COIIleIS I9 described in the following detailed description, Thebattery cable is designated in Figures 1 to 40 then be particularlypointed out in the appended 6 by the numbers I5 to I8 inclusive, I 5being the claims, reference being had to the accompaying normal roundpack of wire strands which are covdrawing, in which; ered` withinsulation I6, while I1 designates the Figure 1. is a ma View "f neembOdiment f lt rmfet? imolup s a my Invention' mately fla swhile theunderr side is conveli):p (See thllgiezso' I lfilta longitudinal sectionon h Figures 2, 3 and 5.) Idesignates the loose ends of the cable wiresspread in the chamber I2 when Figure 1s a vertical cross section on theline screw H is screwed down- By inserting the 3"3 of Flgure 2' strandsI5 through the restricted passage 5, past 50 line 4-4 Of Figure 3- tionpressed tight1y into the dared end 2, when Figure 5 is a detailperspective View Showing a' screw is tightened down it win draw in thecacable end as it appearsV after having been secured ble and cause theinsulation 4It to be drawn in the cable grip socket. tightly into thesocket; the screw win denect 55 Figure 4 is a detail horizontal sectionon the the bore 3in1-,0 the chamber |2 with the insula.

downwardly and laterally the strands 5 beneath the screw and mash andcompact the strands together into a substantially solid mass I1,allowing the ends I8 to spread out freely. Thus, even should the screwwork loose, which is quite unlikely, the formation of the solidied"button Il will prevent the cable being pulled out of the socket.

In order to insure a full spreading out of the wires to 'form the buttonAI may provide the screw plug ||e witha conical point or teat 45 (seeFigures 2, 3 and 6) to project into the cable and spread the strandsradially from the center or axis of the plug. The socket e may beprovided with a corresponding recess 46 into which the point 45 mayproject when the screw plug is all the way in.

In Figures 7 to 12 inclusive is shown another embodiment of myinvention, by reference to which it will be seen that 2| represents thebody of the cable terminal, which body has aiiared entrance portion orbell mouth 22 and a threaded plug receiving hole 23, the latter being ofgreater diameter than the width of the wire receiving socket which iscomposed of the parts 25, 26, 2l and 34, an-d which intersects the hole23 at right angles. The bottom of the threaded hole is concaved as at 24and lies at a lowerlevel than the bottom 21 of the wire socket (seeFigure 10) to constitute a seat.

28 is the usual split clamp which may be secured to a battery post by abolt 29 and nut 3D in the usual manner.

The screw plug 3| which cooperates with the aforesaid structure embodiesa straight side threaded plug having a smooth surfaced conveXed end 33to cooperate with the concaved seat 24 (see Figure 12) The other end ofthe plug 3| has a nut-head 32, preferably of lesser diameter than thatof the plug as a whole, to receive a wrench for turning.

The battery cable is designated in Figures 7 to 12 .by the numeral 35and its strands by the numeral 36.

That portion of the wire receiving socket which is intersected by thethreaded bore 23 has vertical side walls 26, an arched top 25, and aV-shaped bottom 21. The pocket 34 at the inner end.of the socket is forthe reception of the ends of the wire strands 36 when they are spread orsqueezed by the clamping action of the plug through the medium of theconcaved convexed surfaces 24 and 33 respectively, see Figure 12.

If it be desired to hitch a split clamp type connector to my terminal aterminal such as 42b or 42e of the battery post typemay be formed on theplug or screw as shown in Figures 13 and 14.

Those parts in Figure 13 which correspond to Figures 'l to 12,inclusive, bear the same reference numerals plus the index letter vb andthose parts in Figure 14 which correspond to similar parts in Figures 7to 12, inclusive, bear the same reference numerals plus the index letterc, so further and detailed description thereof is thought to beunnesessary.

When the cable is inserted into the socket as shown in Figure 7, ordotted lin'es in Figure 8, 'it is pushed in tightly so that theinsulation of the cable will be wedged into the bell mouth 22 andthusform an acid-tight plug or stopper. The plug 2| isthen screwed downtightly and causes the strands of the cable to spread laterally as wellas to be compacted by the screw action. This ilattens out the strandedcable near the end. Regardless of whether or not all of the strands areavailable for clamping purposes the clamp will securely grip any strandslocated between the concavity 24 and the convexity 33.

By making the strand-receiving bore of straight sides 26 and of a widthless than the diameter of the threaded bore 23, see Figure l0, the cablestrands may be pushed in without tangling up with the threads during theinsertion process. Furthermore, the V-shaped bottom 21-21 allows thestrands to center in the strand-receiving socket regardless of thenumber of strands or the f size of the cable being secured. Furthermore,the

.provisionof the V-shaped bottom wall 2l close to the bore 23 enablesthe screw plug to be screwed down to its desired depth to grip anynumber of cable strands completely and close the entrance to the socketby constriction of the V-shaped entrance.

The chamber 34 provides a convenient place to allow the ends of thecable strands to project into over the V-shaped bottom and allow theplug to be screwed down on the cable strands and force any number ofstrands, regardless of the number, into the seat of the Apocket and gripthe strands fully while at the same time closing the pocket at both thefront and rear by constriction of the seat in the sleeve pocket andthreaded top and v side walls of the pocket and bore 23.

'circle of threads and lthus no opening is left 35 around the top of theplug through which acidor acid fumes may pass into the wire receivingrecess or pocket. Furthermore, by running the threads 23 all the waydown to the concavity 24 the screw plug 3| will have an adequate bearingand all of the strain will not be taken up by the few threads at the topof the body 2|.

As to all subject matter in common between this application and myapplication iled June 8, 1933, Serial No. 674,956 (on a portion of whichapplication Letters Patent #2,015,144 was issued September 24, 1935), mypresent application is a continuation in part of said application,Serial No. 674,956; it being the intention that the present applicationshall carry the broad or generic r claims to all species and thespecific claims to the species shown in Figures 1-12 inclusive, of thisapplication, while Patent #2,015,144 carries the claims to the speciestherein shown and described.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it vis thought that the complete construction,operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilledin the art, and I wish it understood that further changes in the.details 0f construction and arrangement of parts than those illustratedmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

What I` claim is:

1. A battery cable terminal comprising a part to fit a battery post anda wire receiving socket, said socket having a longitudinal chamber of aAdiameter sumcient only to receive the strands of a stranded-wireinsulated cable, the entrance of said chamber being outwardly ared to adiameter sufficient to receive the insulated part of the cable, saidsocket having a. threaded bore of substantially greater diameter thanthat 01' said 75 longitudinal chamber, the axis of said threaded borebeing normal to that of said longitudinal chamber, said socket having adepression in its wall `opposite the threaded bore and a solid end screwplug fitting said threaded'bore to cooperate with said depression inclamping` the wire strands in said longitudinal chamber and drawing thecables insulation into fluid-tight contact with the wall of said flaredentrance. y

2. A battery cable terminal comprising aL part to iit a battery post anda wire receiving socket, said socket having a longitudinal chamber ci adiameter suiiicient only to receive the strands of la stranded-wireinsulated cable, the entrance of said chamber being outwardly flared to.a diameter sumcient to receive the cable, said socket having a threadedbore of substantially greater diameter than that of said longitudinalchamber, the axis bore being normal to that of said longitudinalchamber, said socket having a depression in its wall opposite thethreaded bore, a solid-end screw plug tting said threaded bore tocooperate with said depression in clamping the wire strands in saidlongitudinal chamber and drawing the cabie's insulation into fluid-tightcontact with the wall of said flared entrance, said socket having atleast one half-moon rib transversely located in said longitudinalchamber adjacent said depression over which rib the strands of the cableare bent when the screw is tightened down.

3. A battery cable terminal comprising a part to iit a battery post anda wire receiving socket, said socket having a longitudinal chamber of adiameter sumcient only to receive the strands of a stranded-wireinsulated cable, the entrance of said chamber being outwardly flared toa diameter sucient to receive the insulated part of the cable, saidsocket having a threaded bore of substantially greater diameter thanthat of said longitudinal chamber, the axis of said threaded bore beingnormal to that of said longitudinal chamber, said socket having adepression in its wall opposite the threaded bore, and a solid-end screwplug tting said threaded bore to cooperate with said depression inclamping the wire strands in said longitudinal chamber and drawing thecables insulation into fluid-tight contact with the' wall ci said flaredentrance, said screw having an approximately ilat clamping end andhaving a pin projecting from its ilattened end to penetrate between thewires of the strand of cable and spread the strands laterally as theflat end of the screw compresses the strands'into the depression.

i. A battery cable terminal comprising a part to rit a Abattery post anda. wire receiving socket, said socket having a longitudinal chamber of adiameter sufficient only to receive the strands of a stranded-wireinsulated cable, the entrance of said chamber being outwardly flared toa diameter suicient to receive the insulated part of the cable, saidsocket having a threaded bore ci substantially greater diameter thanthat of the insulated part oi.

of said threaded said longitudinal chamber, the aids of Vsaid threadedbore/being normal to that oi' said longitudinalchamber, said sockethaving a depression in its wall opposite the threaded bore, a solidendscrew plug fitting said threaded bore to cooperate with said depressionin clamping the wire strands in said longitudinal chamber and drawingthe cables insulation into fluid-tight contact with the wall of saidiiared entrance, said socket having at least'cne haii-moon ribtransversely located in said longitudinal chamber adjacent saiddepression over which rib the strands of the cable are bent when thescrew is tightened down, andsaid screw having an approximately iiatclamping end and having a pin projecting from its ilattened end topenetrate between the wires of the .strandci cable and spread thestrands laterally as the flat end of the screw compresses the strandsinto the depres sion.

5. A battery cable terminal comprising a part to engage a battery postand a part having a wire receiving socket which has a longitudinalchamber oi a diameter sufficient only to receive the wires of aninsulated cable, the entrance of said chamber being outwardly dared to adiameter sufficient to receive 'the insulated part of the cable, saidsocket having a threaded bore of substantiallyT greater diameter thanthat of said longitudinal chamber, the axis of said bore being normal totbat of said longitudinal chamber, said socket having two ribstransversely located in said longitudinal chamber adjacent the bottom ofsaid threaded bore one at each side of the threaded bore, a solid-endscrew plug fitting said threaded bore to clamp the wires in the socketbetween said ribs and to draw the cables insulation into uidtightcontact the wall of said dared entrance.

6. A battery cable terminal comprising a part to engage a battery postand a part having a wire receiving socket which has a longitudinalchamber of a diameter suihcient only to receive the wires of aninsulated cable, the entrance or" said chamber beingoutwardly flared toa diam" eter suflicient to receive the insulated part of the cable,said. socket having a dared bore ci' substantially greater diameter thanthat of said longitudinal chamber, the axis of said bore being normal tothat ci said longitudinal chamber, said socket having two ribstransversely located in said longitudinal chamber adjacent the bottom ofsaid threaded bore one at each side oi' the threaded bore, a solid-endscrew plug ntting said threaded bore to clamp the wires in the socketbetween said ribs and to draw the cables insulation into fluid-tightcontact with the wall of saidiiared entrance, said screw having a pinprojecting from its solid-end to penetrate the wires of the cable andspread the same lateraln ly as said end of said screw compresses thewires into the depression.

CHARLES E. HOOVER.

